Wirral Rugby Club

General information

Wirral RFC is based at the Memorial Ground on the Wirral between Bromborough and Neston. It boasts 4 senior teams playing in National League Three North and the Raging Bull North West Leagues along with a Vets team who play the odd game. It is supported by a very large Minis & Junior section with all ages catered for from U7’s up to Senior Colts – some 300 plus players.

History

The Club was founded in 1936 with Old Boy’s from Wirral Grammar School the first game was against the School, which the School won 11 points to 9. Before the war the School rugby teams played in maroon shirts with grey collars and the founder members of Old Wirralians’ decided on the now famous maroon and white hoops to cement their old ties with the School.

The Club prospered quickly with a second team the following season but the outbreak of war saw most players joining the Forces. However, with the help of the School and under the guidance of the legendary 'Dippy Howarth’ we kept going right through the war, the only Old Boys side in the area to do so.
After the war the Club leased ground facilities at the old Hooton Park Golf Club and in 1968 the Old Wirralians’ Association Memorial Ground was opened at Clatterbridge by our most famous rugby Old Boy, Air Commodore R. H. G. Weighill. Since that date the Club has continued to progress with six senior sides, an under-21‘s, Colts’ and Junior Colts’ sides and a flourishing Mini Rugby Section.

All the achievements made possible by the early Wirralians have been most ably carried on year in and year out by their successors and perhaps one of the greatest gifts inherited from our School rugby playing days is that players came from School and stayed to administer the Club when their playing days were over. Our immediate Past President for 15 years, Keith Nichol, was a member of the very first side in 1936 and a signatory on the famous ball on display at School.

Off Field Events

The club holds many functions throughout the year but the ones that attract old and new members alike are the Past Players Lunch, held each Spring and the Club Dinner held every May.

Last year the Past Players lunch attracted over 90 past players who enjoyed a great lunch and friendship before watching the 1st XV beat local rivals Hoylake 48-7 in a fantastic game of rugby with some great tries scored by the Wirral players.

In April of this year the club are holding a Festival of Entertainment starting with a Wirral Grammar School Show Case on the 15th April and culminating with the Cheshire Junior and Plate Finals Day on Sunday 25th April. Other events that will held during this period are a Sportsman’s Dinner; a Black Tie Ball; The Club Dinner and a Beer Festival.